Thread: Torso on a mission

Where do you hang the towels?

A self portrait I presume?

It's a pretty good effort all round. I'd be tempted to soften the edges of the muscles a bit, so they are a bit more beneath the skin.
I have a head laying around, but you seem sorted for that. Good luck with the quest.

And perhaps throw in a rib cage.

And if I was to be hyper critical...changer yer image compression technique. My eyesight isn't getting any better you know.

Ah... Anatomy ! So much to study. thats a good training for the eyes too.
I'm there too but i stopped from the head to the shoulders, and modelling clay. Very useful, isn't it ?

Ha ha Raav, self portrait??, perhaps if I turned the torso upside down it would look like me. I thought you could hang a towel
over that bent metal arm. Sorry about the photo cropping I'm only using the very free Piccasa, haven't got photo shop.
Copeau, Yes the model is very handy but I just use plasticine.

Studying anatomy (in the classical sense) makes the eye seem old, tired, dumb and forgetful - doesn't help at all.

There's something disquieting about that Rob.... I guess it must be art cause I'm reacting to it!

Originally Posted by Whittling

There's something disquieting about that Rob.... I guess it must be art cause I'm reacting to it!

I guess if I could explain it fully it wouldn't be art, I think I just wanted to do something other than just a torso.

"Some assembly required, batteries not included." Lost his mind, that's all. A bit foot-loose, too.

However do you get the drawing transferred to the block so that the third dimension is so well rendered in the carving? I would not know where to begin.

Originally Posted by raav

Studying anatomy (in the classical sense) makes the eye seem old, tired, dumb and forgetful - doesn't help at all.

Can't remember who said that you had to learn first before you can forget what you've been taught.
Who can remember that Picasso was amazingly mastering classical drawing ?

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

"Some assembly required, batteries not included." Lost his mind, that's all. A bit foot-loose, too.

However do you get the drawing transferred to the block so that the third dimension is so well rendered in the carving? I would not know where to begin.

Hi RV, I just mark all the measurements from the drawing or model on the block then draw it free hand, once I have cut out the shape I mark the measurements and draw the side view then start gouging down to those lines..... slowly. Making a clay or plasticine model first really helps with the 3D aspect, hope that answers your question.

Looks nicely carved and great design. Well done

I really like this piece especial the way you have got the hands holding the feet just the way you would carry a pair of shoes.

Thanks Rob
Carving down to the lines = that's what I was hoping you'd say. Getting better at that.
Next, I just might have to buy a chunk of plasticine (in the city for a week.) Got a clay modelling tool set with a carving tool consignment, all or nothing deal.

After doing the Dragonfly dishes, I decided that I'd like to make a pair of Raven dishes. The yellow cedar wood is about 10x10x30cm. I can't imagine how I want to see the bird's head and neck connect to the end of the dish between the wing shoulders.

Time for plasticine, maybe? For economy, is there a benefit to working over an armature? The first 10-12cm of that end of the dish is all I need.

Thanks Claw hammer & Diggerdelaney,
R.V. I think making a model of the head of your raven will give you a lot more confidence when carving it, I use plasticine for economy reasons
only, squash it up and use it again, clay would be better if you plan to the same dishes again. I don't think you'll need an armature as the ravens head & neck to the shoulders is reasonably thick, I'd try it without first. Look forward to seeing your dishes, I like them a lot.